Recent Posts: News Buzz Musings

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS The FBI’s investigation into collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election is getting closer to the president. On Thursday, May 26, 2017, the media reported that White House advisor and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner is a focus of the FBI‘s investigation. The […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS Former FBI Director James Comey will definitely make a splash when he returns to Capitol Hill after Memorial Day. The Senate Intelligence Committee announced on Friday, May 19, 2017, that Comey will be testifying at a public hearing, the date has not been set. The FBI Director will be […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS President Donald Trump is making his first public remarks on the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump commented on Thursday, May 18, 2017, during his joint press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. The President called the Russia investigation […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS The Department of Justice headed to Democratic Congressional demands and appointed a special counsel to investigate Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election. On Thursday evening, May 17, 2017, the Department of Justice announced that they appointed Former FBI Director Robert Mueller to conduct the Russia investigation. Two hours […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS Former FBI Director James Comey was the downfall for 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s presidential aspirations and now he might be President Donald Trump’s downfall. On Tuesday, May 16, 2017, the New York Times reported that after Comey met with the president at the White House he wrote a […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS President Donald Trump is taking his former reality show’s tagline “you’re fired” and applying it to his governing. Trump fired embattled FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday evening, May 9, 2017. Trump quickly created a firestorm in Washington over his abrupt firing of Comey. Comey just testified that the […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS For better or worse, the Republicans delivered on their promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. On Thursday afternoon, May 4, 2017, the House of Representatives passed a revised version of the American Health Care Act with a vote of 217 to 213, with 20 Republicans voting against the bill […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS Republicans in Congress failed to gain enough support to put the American Health Care Act to a vote on Friday, March 24, 2017. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan discussed with President Donald Trump the lack of votes, and they agreed to pull the bill. Conservatives in the House […]

By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS Obamacare health care remains the law in the nation after Congressional Republicans failed to put their replacement the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to a vote. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-WI was unable to secure enough votes to pass the GOP replacement bill and pulled the bill […]

ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF: ISRAEL NEWS PM Netanyahu’s Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting 25/12/2016 Source: PMO, 12-25-16 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, made the following remarks: [Translated from Hebrew] “I share ministers’ feelings, anger and frustration vis-à-vis the unbalanced resolution that is […]

ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF: ISRAEL NEWS U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power’s Full Speech at the Security Council Source: Haaretz, 12-23-16 The full text of Samantha Power’s address to the Security Council concerning the resolution against Israeli settlements. The full text of Samantha Power’s address to the United Nations Security Council concerning […]

ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF: ISRAEL NEWS Remarks by President Obama at Memorial Service for Former Israeli President Shimon Peres Source: WH, 9-30-16 Mount Herzl Jerusalem 11:14 A.M. IDT PRESIDENT OBAMA: Zvia, Yoni, Chemi and generations of the Peres family; President Rivlin; Prime Minister Netanyahu; members of the Israeli government and the Knesset; heads […]

ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF: ISRAEL NEWS PM Netanyahu’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly Source: PMO, 9-22-16 PM Netanyahu’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly Photo by Kobi Gideon, GPO Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, What I’m about to say is going to shock you: Israel has a bright future at […]

ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF: ISRAEL NEWS Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel Before Bilateral Meeting Source: WH, 9-21-16 Lotte New York Palace Hotel New York, New York 12:58 P.M. EDT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Mr. President, it’s very good to see you again. First, I want to thank you for […]

ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF ISRAEL POLITICAL BRIEF: ISRAEL NEWS PM Netanyahu’s Remarks at the Memorial Ceremony for Those Who Fell During their Foreign Service Source: PMO, 10-10-16 The names of the 16 people from our Foreign Service who were killed during their service are engraved in iron and stone on the wall of commemoration behind me. […]

CAMPAIGN 2012

By Bonnie K. Goodman

Ms. Goodman is the Editor of History Musings. She has a BA in History & Art History & a Masters in Library and Information Studies from McGill University, and has done graduate work in history at Concordia University. Ms. Goodman has also contributed the overviews, and chronologies in History of American Presidential Elections, 1789-2008, 4th edition, edited by Gil Troy, Fred L. Israel, and Arthur Meier Schlesinger to be published by Facts on File, Inc. in late 2011.

Republican Debate: Live Blog of ABC News, Yahoo News and WMUR Presidential Debate: ABC News, Yahoo News and WMUR are sponsoring the first debate of the remaining Republican presidential candidates. The debate is being held at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire ahead of next Tuesday’s all-important New Hampshire primary … – ABC News, 1-7-12

New Hampshire Debate Live Blog: The Republican candidates for president have gathered at St. Anselm’s College for the first of two back- to-back debates that could serve as a televised confrontation of Mitt Romney, who has a large lead… – NYT, 1-6-12

New Hampshire ABC debate: The live blog!: The six major Republican presidential candidates will take the debate stage for the first time in almost a month tonight in New Hampshire — and the Fix will bring every minute of it to you live. The debate, which is being sponsored by ABC and WMUR…. – WaPo, 1-7-12

Recommended: Live-tweeting the debate: The NBC political team will be live-tweeting the debate, which is sponsored by ABC News, Yahoo and WMUR, in this post beginning at 9 pm ET. … – msnbc.com, 1-7-12

Live blog of tonight’s Republican presidential debate in Goffstown, NH: The Republican presidential campaign entered a potentially formative 12-hour span tonight, as the candidates began back-to-back debates just three days before the New Hampshire primary. … – Boston.com, 1-7-12

“I was not ever for an individual mandate. I wasn’t for a top-down, government-run health care system. I wasn’t for the big bank of Wall Street bailout, as Governor Romney was. We’re looking for someone who can win this race, who can win this race on the economy and on the core issues of this election.” — Rick Santorum

“Business experience doesn’t necessarily match up with being the commander-in-chief of this country. The commander-in-chief of this country isn’t a CEO.” — Rick Santorum

“I think people who spend their life in Washington don’t understand what happens out in the real economy. The people in the private sector. They’re not successful because they’re managers. They’re successful primarily because they are leaders.” — Mitt Romney

“As far as substance, I agree with Speaker [Newt] Gingrich. I don’t think Governor Romney’s plan is particularly bold, or is particularly focused on where the problems are in this country… there are no classes in America. We are a country that don’t allow for titles. We don’t put people in classes. There may be middle income people, but the idea that somehow or another we’re going to buy into the class warfare arguments of Barack Obama is something that should not be part of the Republican lexicon. That’s their job, divide, separate, put one group against another. I’ll use the language of bringing people together.” — Rick Santorum

“I mean, he became a high-powered lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and he has done quite well. We checked out Newt, on his income. I think we ought to find out how much money he has made from the lobbyists as well.” — Ron Paul

“I’m not nearly as enamored of a Wall Street model where you can flip companies, you can go in and have leveraged buyouts, you can basically take out all the money, leaving behind the workers.” — Newt Gingrich

“We understand that in the free economy, in the private sector, that sometimes investments don’t work and you’re not successful. It always pains you if you have to be in a situation of downsizing a business in order to try and make it more successful, turn it around and try and grow it again.” — Mitt Romney

Ron Paul: “You’re a big-government conservative. To say you’re a conservative, I think it’s a stretch, but you’ve convinced a lot of people of it.”

Rick Santorum: “If you haven’t been sued by CREW, you are not a conservative. It’s a ridiculous charge and you should know better than to cite George Soros-like organizations.”
I think I’ve convinced a lot of people of it because I think my record is pretty good. I’m not a libertarian, Ron, I agree with you. You vote against everything; I don’t vote against everything.”

Ron Paul: “I think people who don’t serve when they could and get three or four or even five deferments have no right to send our kids off to war and be even against the wars we have. I’m trying to stop the wars but at least I went when they called me up.”

Newt Gingrich: “Dr. Paul has a long history of saying things that are inaccurate and false. The fact is I never asked for a deferment. I was married with a child. It was never a question. I personally resent the kind of comments and aspersions he routinely makes without accurate information and then just slurs people.”

Ron Paul: “When I was drafted I was married with two kids and I went.”

Newt Gingrich: “I wasn’t eligible for the draft. I wasn’t eligible for the draft.”

Rick Perry: “I would send troops back into Iraq. The idea that we allow the Iranians to come back into Iraq and take over that country, with all of the treasure, both in blood and money that we have spent in Iraq, because this president wants to kowtow to his liberal leftist base and move out those men and women. … I think it is a huge error for us.”

Mitt Romney: “There’s every right for people in this country to form long-term relationships with each other, that doesn’t mean they need to call it marriage.”

Newt Gingrich: “It’s a huge jump from being understanding, considerate, concerned [for same-sex couples], which we should be, to saying we’re therefore going to institute the sacrament of marriage as though it has no basis. The sacrament of marriage is based on a man and a woman, has been for 3,000 years, is at the core of our civilization and is worth protecting and upholding. I think protecting and upholding that doesn’t mean you need to make life miserable for others.”

Rick Santorum: “I believe the issue of marriage itself is a federal issue. Marriage is… a foundational institution in our country and we have to have a singular law with respect to that.”

Newt Gingrich: “You don’t hear the opposite question asked: should the Catholic Church be forced to close its adoption services in Massachusetts because it won’t adopt to same-sex couples? The bigotry question goes both ways. And there’s a lot more anti-Christian bigotry today than there is on the other side and none of it gets covered by the media.”

Mitt Romney: “People in this room think Speaker Gingrich is right, and I do too.”

“I don’t intend to do it. And somebody pushed me a little bit hard and said why don’t you plan to do it? I just — I don’t want to. So I have no intention. But I don’t know why a person can’t reserve a judgment and see how things turn out? You know, in many ways I see the other candidates as very honorable people, but I sometimes disagree with their approach to government.” — Ron Paul

Mitt Romney: “I’m going to tell the Chinese, it’s time to stop. I’m not going to let you kill American jobs.”

“The president is trying to take responsibility for the economy. It’s like the rooster taking responsibility for the sunrise — he didn’t do it.” — Mitt Romney

Debate Fact Check: Net Jobs and Obama on Iran: Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital, a private equity firm, came under scrutiny at Saturday night’s Republican debate, leading him to claim that he helped create 100000 jobs, even when layoffs from downsized firms were factored … – NYT, 1-8-12

FACT CHECK: Romney, in debate, offers an iffy accounting of his claim of job: After months of getting a pass on the subject from his rivals, Mitt Romney was challenged in the Republican presidential debate Saturday night on his frequent claims that he created great numbers of jobs in the private sector. .. – AP, 1-7-12

Fact Checking the New Hampshire Debate: Newt Gingrich raced out of the gate in tonight’s debate by being skeptical of Mitt Romney’s claim that Bain was responsible for creating 100000 jobs, and he pointed to scrutiny of the firm in a recent New York Times article and a documentary. … – ABC News, 1-7-12

Romney Unruffled in GOP Debate as Rivals Attack Each Other: Mitt Romney was unruffled in the New Hampshire Republican debate Saturday night that saw heated exchanges between Ron Paul and his rivals but relatively little criticism leveled against the frontrunner.
Rick Santorum, who is riding high after his number two finish in the Iowa caucus, was one of the few candidates to go aggressively after the former Massachusetts governor, taking on his economic plan and health care record.
The former senator, who has portrayed Romney as a cold, calculating, chief executive and not an inspirational leader, continued that line of attack tonight…. – ABC News, 1-7-12

Romney Eludes Rivals’ Attacks at Republican Debate in N.H.: A relaxed and self-assured Mitt Romney sailed above the fray at a crucial debate on Saturday night as his Republican rivals engaged in a spirited fight to determine which of them would emerge as his most formidable opponent when the party’s nominating contest moves past New Hampshire….. – NYT, 1-7-12

GOP debate: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul spar over military service: One thing you don’t do in Republican debates (or really, any US debate) is accuse another candidate of dishonoring military service…. – LAT, 1-7-12

Republican debate turns testy: Romney noted that Huntsman had been serving the Obama administration in Beijing while others on the debate stage were trying to elect Republican candidates in the 2010 election. Huntsman, whose personal rivalry with Romney is deep-rooted… – LAT, 1-7-12

Rivals hit Mitt Romney on business record: Mitt Romney’s carefully honed message focuses on his experience at Bain Capital, the buyout firm he founded with William Bain Jr. and other Bain & Co. partners. But that experience is under fire from other candidates. … – The Boston Globe, 1-8-12

Republican debate: Newt Gingrich warms up Mitt Romney attacks for debates: Gearing up for the first debate since he dropped from the top of the polls, Newt Gingrich stood in front of a large tank here and previewed the assaults he’s preparing against Mitt Romney at this weekend’s two debates…. – Politico, 1-7-12

Newt says Bain is fair game: The questions about Mitt Romney’s private sector work turned to Newt Gingrich and the blistering ads about Bain Capital that a super PAC supporting him is set to air in South Carolina. “I haven’t seen the film. … – Politico, 1-7-12

Romney raps Huntsman for Obama administration service: Mitt Romney, after getting hit by Jon Huntsman for his jobs record in Massachusetts, turned the tables by saying to his opponent, “Governor, for the last two years you were implementing the policies of this administration in China. … – Politico, 1-7-12

Huntsman criticizes Romney in Mandarin over China policy: Republican presidential contender Jon Huntsman says his opponents’ policies would start a trade war with China. Huntsman, the former ambassador to China, says tough talk and new tariffs aren’t the answer. And during Saturday’s debate…. – WaPo, 1-7-12

Huntsman, Out of Options, Bets It All on New Hampshire: And he was only a secondary presence at Saturday’s night Republican debate in New Hampshire, barely attacking his rivals…. – NYT, 1-8-12

Perry: “I would send troops back into Iraq”: Rick Perry said he would send US troops back to Iraq at a Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire on Saturday… – CBS News, 1-8-12

Mitt Romney under attack from other GOP candidates ahead of NH debate: Republican front-runner Mitt Romney warned his supporters Saturday against complacency as his rivals prepared to gang up on him in a nationally televised nighttime debate with the goal of breaking his stride toward the GOP nomination. … – WaPo, 1-7-12

New Hampshire debates: Will Romney’s rivals try to slow him down?: If anyone is going to take it to Mitt Romney, it might as well be now. The slowly diminishing field of GOP presidential candidates, as odd as it may seem, has two debates that will begin within 12 hours of each other… – LAT, 1-7-12

In Republican debate tonight, Romney, Santorum have targets on backs: GOP rivals to Iowa caucus winners Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are expected to take off the gloves in Republican debate tonight and follow-up one Sunday in New Hampshire…. – CS Monitor, 1-7-12

Santorum telegraphs punches at Romney before GOP debate: If Rick Santorum’s blistering remarks about Mitt Romney on Saturday are any indication, this evening’s televised debate will be the most acrimonious of the Republican presidential campaign. Following his success in the Iowa caucuses…. – LAT, 1-7-12